The narrative begins on September 26, 2002, at 7:00 AM, as the author is awakened by an insistent phone call—a call that foreshadows a devastating event. The text marks the beginning of a recollection of the *Joola* ferry disaster, one of the worst maritime tragedies in Senegalese history. The *Joola*, a ferry traveling from *Dakar* to *Ziguinchor*, capsized during a storm off the coast of *Gambia*, resulting in over 1,800 lives lost. The insistent phone call signaled the unfolding catastrophe, instantly altering the course of the day. The author's initial reaction of being roused from sleep contrasts sharply with the immense grief that would soon engulf *Senegal*. The text serves as a poignant prelude to a more detailed account of the *Joola* tragedy and its lasting impact. The memory of the *Joola* continues to resonate deeply within *Senegal* twenty-two years later.